[humanser] Paying to Join the Federation

Tue Jun 30 09:30:39 UTC 2015

I would like to make a correction on this post regarding human services dues. The human services division dues are five dollars.

Merry C. schoch,LCSW

> On Jun 29, 2015, at 10:37 PM, Kaiti Shelton via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi, Paul,
> 
> Glad to hear that someone has personally delivered the message.  This
> thread is great, but it certainly can't beat a person-to-person
> conversation on the topic.
> 
> In case anyone was interested in a breakdown of sorts to see what the
> "average" student Federationist might pay a year, I did the math based
> on my own Federation expenses for dues only.  I'm not counting
> donations to chapter or student division projects or fees I pay for
> fundraisers here, or convention registrations and banquet ticket
> costs.
> $5 dues for NABS, X2 for state student division.
> $10 dues for Human Services.
> $5 for Performing Arts Division.
> $5 Ohio NAPUB.
> $5 Cincinnati chapter dues.
> 
> That's only 35 dollars a year for an entire network of mentors,
> friends, and professionals I can turn to, and it spans everything from
> human services, to the performing arts, to braille literacy and more.
> My professional organization, even at the student rate, charges
> significantly more than that.  Even bookshare is more expensive at the
> standard non-student rate.
> 
> Fun fact: Dr. and Mrs. Maurer are dues-paid members of the Ohio
> Association of Blind Students this year and then some.  They were our
> representatives at our convention last November and I believe Dr.
> Maurer paid dues to several Ohio divisions.  He paid into OABS because
> all the divisions of the NFB, large or small, are connected and any
> success for them, or any chapter or affiliate, is success for the
> movement.  It's not much to pay $5 or $10 here or there whenever
> you're in a division or chapter collecting them because it's all going
> towards success.
> 
>> On 6/29/15, Paul Martinez via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Greetings,
>> 
>> This inquiry has been requested previously by this individual, and has
>> been answered by several proud members of the National Federation of
>> the Blind. As the President of the Florida Association of Blind
>> Students, I personally took the time to speak to this individual about
>> this situation. I offered to pay her 5 dollars membership dues for
>> FABS, as long as she was an active member of the division. However,
>> since the conversation there has been no interest in becoming a
>> Federationist. So, I once again will extend this offer to pay for her
>> membership as long as the desire and interest is there to become a
>> part of the NFB family. Also, I would like to thank everyone who
>> replied to this email and showed how great it is to be in the
>> federation.
>> 
>> 
>> Let's continue to build the federation!!
>> 
>> Warm regards,
>> 
>> Paul Martinez
>> FABS President
>> 
>> 2nd Vice President, Board of Directors of Florida
>> 
>> Vice president,
>> Florida State Wide Chapter
>> 
>>> On 6/29/15, Kaiti Shelton via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> Hi, Roana and all,
>>> 
>>> I may be just another person in the choir singing the same tune here,
>>> but to add to what Justin and Alex said particularly I have a few
>>> thoughts.  I'm president of my state student division and in that case
>>> we have mostly non-working, full-time students as members.  We collect
>>> $5 dues annually.  We recently had a high school kid who is in his
>>> freshman year join and it wasn't long at all before a long-time member
>>> stepped up and paid his dues for him when he really didn't have money
>>> of his own yet.  A gesture like that can sometimes be what it takes to
>>> make a new member feel welcomed and a part of the movement, and I know
>>> he appreciates it.  That is how the NFB is; we step up when we can and
>>> step up for others when they cannot, but if you have the means to do
>>> it you should contribute along with everyone else in the movement and
>>> get more out of it.  It really is a small price to pay, even when you
>>> add up several annual due costs for those of us who are active in a
>>> variety of things.  I'd venture to say that is a lot of us, though,
>>> and we're all willing to feed into the movement so we can get the most
>>> out of it for all.
>>> 
>>> You only get out of something what you put into it.  If no one paid
>>> dues the NFB wouldn't have money to work with and do all the wonderful
>>> things it does.  This also goes for state affiliates and divisions at
>>> the national and state levels.
>>> 
>>>> On 6/29/15, Serena Cucco via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> Hi Roanna,
>>>> 
>>>> As Alex said earlier, if someone cannot afford to pay for membership,
>>>> the division could probably think of a solution.  Also, since all the
>>>> NFB divisions operate the same way with paying dues without any
>>>> problem, I'm not sure that having membership be free would increase
>>>> membership.  The number of members we have has to do with the number
>>>> of human services professionals or interested Federationists there
>>>> are.
>>>> 
>>>> Serena
>>>> 
>>>>> On 6/29/15, Roanna Bacchus via humanser <humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>> Hi Serena I think if membership was free more people would join
>>>>> our organization.  Many people cannot afford to pay for
>>>>> membership each year.
>>>>> 
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> 
>>>> 
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>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> Kaiti
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
>> --
>> Paul M. Martinez
>> President,  Florida Association of Blind Students
>> Second Vice President, NFBFL Board of Directors
>> Vice President, Florida State Wide Chapter
>> Paul09ms at gmail.com
>> Ph: 813-390-5720
>> The national Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
>> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
>> expectations of blind people, because low expectations create
>> obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life
>> you want; blindness is not what holds you back.
>> 
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>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Kaiti
> 
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